Covering over 450 acres, Telford Town Park is one of the jewels within the Telford and Wrekin Borough area and has even won national titles to go with its Green Flag status. I've been visiting the park on and off since childhood, when we used to have family days out clambering over Malinslee Fort or testing our balance on the adventure play equipment. With plenty of industrial heritage to investigate, I summon Stephen for a leisurely stroll towards Stirchley and Hinkshay...
- Commemorating the Coalbrookdale Coalfield -
It's Friday 18th October 2024 and I meet Mr Beardsmore aboard the number 891 bus, a route which nowadays is operated by Banga Buses but was historically a Midland Red concern until Arriva withdrew their service. The £2 single fare price cap applies for a bargain journey via Albrighton, Cosford and Shifnal before we set down at the revamped Telford Bus Station circa quarter past eleven. Ignoring the charms of the New Look or H&M stores, we sashay through Southwater and pitch straight into Town Park proper, eyeing up a bright red pitwheel designed to remember those who worked on the Coalbrookdale Coalfield.
- Telford Veterans Trail -
More moments of reflection can be gleaned over by the Queen Elizabeth II Arena (itself a sunken grassy bowl which can host open air events for up to 12,000 people). The Telford Veterans Trail comprises a series of mounted plaques snaking their way out from the town's War Memorial; together they aim to record the active service records of local personnel across all of the Armed Forces, both in the First and Second World Wars and more recent conflicts. After pausing for pictures and to pay our respects, we venture out near the Amphitheatre which seems to be in urgent need of running repairs overlooking Randlay Pool.
- Stirchley Chimney -
Accompanied by disconcertingly ghostly groaning noises emanating from the Wonderland themed attraction, we pick out the path passing between bodies of water on the eastern flank of the park. Randlay Pool is the largest of the constituent pools and was constructed to supply water to a former brickworks, whilst nearby Blue Pool has a similarly industrial origin having been the quarrying site used by the same firm (gaining its name from the underlying clay minerals which give the pool a distinctive blue colour, especially in summer). Probably the most obvious clue to the area's manufacturing past is the towering presence of Stirchley Chimney, although Stephen and I don't spot it until the very last second because it is well screened by surrounding foliage. Erected in 1873, the chimney along with associated blast furnace remains are currently opened for occasional educational visits.
- St James's Church -
Beyond the chimney, we pass the scarrings of disused slag heaps to reach Grange Pool in Town Park's south-eastern corner. At this point we detour off to investigate Stirchley Village (an older settlement which considerably predates the New Town estate which also holds the Stirchley name). A cluster of amenities would have seen a post office, butchers shop, pub - the Rose & Crown, still seemingly trading but not open on this Friday lunchtime - and St James's Church all bunched together. The latter landmark is cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust and has some 12th century Norman architectural elements.
- Stephen at Stirchley Platform -
Continuing along Stirchley Lane, we reach the Silkin Way leisure footpath which follows the course of a disused railway line (namely the branch that connected Wellington with Coalport) and is named in tribute to Lewis Silkin, the Minister responsible for the New Towns Act in the 1960s Labour Government. Evidence of the route's transport provenance is apparent in the form of Dawley and Stirchley Station where the platform remains have been restored with the help of community grant funding. Passenger services ceased here in May/June 1952 although freight operations (mainly involving coal) persisted until 1964 after which the line closed.
- The Three Crowns -
The lack of activity at the aforementioned Rose & Crown means our next best option for a refreshment stop is the Three Crowns on Hinkshay Road, flirting with the edges of Dawley. This is a long-time Marston's boozer standing side-on to the lane and presumably given the brewery's wet-led marketing makeover blueprint - cue barrel emblems and tiled diagrams of the beer-making process. My hopes of a quality pint of cask ale are thwarted when all of the handpulls are out of use so a Thatcher's Gold cider has to suffice instead. Parking ourselves on a tall table, we natter about cricketing capitulations (a theme of the entire summer) while keeping half an eye on some ladies tennis from the Ningbo Open. One amusing feature is the parade of rubber ducks lining the bartop, from mermaid specimens to sailors, Scottish saltires and even a black punk rubber duck with a well-styled mohican - what splendid fun!
- Telford Hornets Rugby Club -
Resuming our Town Park trail, more of Hinkshay Road has us heading northwards in the general direction of Dark Lane car park. I walked this section back in June 2008 when the White Hart pub was just about still standing (albeit in a very tumbledown condition) but that old hostelry has long since vacated the scene, replaced by the new housing of Jerry Rails Avenue and Ever Ready Crescent. The next notable feature for our attention is the Telford Hornets rugby ground complete with well-appointed clubhouse and several training pitches; the club competes in the Counties 1 Midlands West (North) Division - quite a mouthful!
- A Wonderland Welcome -
Our loop has almost come full circle back to Meeting Point House although we are briefly lured across to the Exotic Zoo and Wonderland main entrance by the combined presence of the startled White Rabbit and grinning Cheshire Cat. We're a little too old for either attraction's target audience so we instead convene in the Wrekin Giant (a Hungry Horse establishment over at Southwater) for a gammon lunch with bonus puddings. Further cricketing discussions are interspersed with previewing the Wolves vs Manchester City match - we don't hold out much hope of a home win - and that's our Town Park trip done and dusted. The whole walk was around four miles in total, giving us a great insight into Telford's past - cheers!
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